5 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MYTHS

1 PING PONG BATS

We’ve all seen the staff on runaways directing planes with flags, lights or even ping pong bat-like signals. These aren’t air traffic controllers, but are called flight marshals.

2 SCREEN BURN

Hollywood has a very distinct image of air traffic controls glued to monitors in darkened rooms getting all their information from computers. In fact, the wide windows found in control towers are vital for visually monitoring the planes.

3 TOWER LIFE

Not all air traffic control staff work in control towers; many are located in facilities miles from airports. Also, the image of small crews of stressed staff is a myth: airways are monitored by hundreds of workers.

4 NEAR MISSES ARE COMMON

Near misses can happen, but the attention such incidents garner on social media makes them seem much more common than they are. Air traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS) warn pilots well in advance of nearby aircraft, letting them avoid close encounters in the sky.

5 SOLE RESPONSIBILITY

A plane’s pilot has ultimate responsibility when it comes to landing a plane. Air traffic controllers offer advice, only giving precise instructions when planes pass through weather conditions that severely reduce visibility.